Crimson Warrior (Onyx Assassins 3)

Ransom carried our bags toward the closet, depositing them there before returning to me.

My heart thudded against my chest as I looked at the bed. “Where will Ransom sleep?” I asked, my voice cracking.

Katya furrowed her brow, glancing between us before she laughed. “I know you think our family is archaic, Olivia,” she said, shaking her head. “But we do allow mates to sleep in the same room.”

I blew out a tight breath. Right. Of course. I forced out a laugh, hoping like hell it sounded believable.

“Have fun,” she said, hugging me once again. “It’s nearly dawn. We’ll catch up at evening repast, okay?”

I nodded, squeezing her back before she closed the doors behind her.

“This is nice,” Ransom said, falling on his back against the bed and stretching out. God, he nearly took up the entire thing, and it was massive. The muscles of his legs flexed beneath his leather pants as he stretched, his biceps bulging beneath the soft cotton fabric of his black T-shirt.

Was there no air in this room? It felt ten degrees hotter than it just had been.

I forced myself to walk past the bed, wanting to sit down but knowing better than to climb on that bed with him. I sank into a chair in the corner, the spot farthest away from him and his damn intoxicating scent.

Breathe.

Just breathe and relax.

It’s a bed. Just a bed. We’re friends. We can share a mattress without me having a full-blown anxiety attack.

The thought of him only an armlength away from me, his body dipping the mattress slightly next to me, his scent curling around my pillow…fuck. Would I let my scent slip through in my sleep? Would he be able to tell…be able to feel how much I wanted him? How much I craved to run my fingers over his bare chest and lower, dipping beneath those leathers and gripping what I imagined was hard and long and—

“Should we do it now, then?” Ransom asked, rolling to his side on the bed. He propped that gorgeous face in one of his hands, his arm muscle rippling with the motion.

My jaw nearly came unhinged my mouth dropped so fast. Heat flushed every inch of my body, and I mentally rechecked my scent. Still masked. I threw another layer of mental protection over it just in case.

“I…well, I…” I stumbled over my words, my heart and my brain warring.

He raised his brows. “Should we wake the Hunters?”

The breath rushed out of me so fast my shoulders dipped. “Oh,” I said, blinking, cursing myself, and trying like hell to get a grip.

“What did you think I meant?” he asked, sitting up on the bed, his blue eyes glittering with a wicked tint.

“Nothing—”

The doors flew open, cutting off whatever I’d been about to say. My mother strolled through them like a queen. Her silver gown flowed behind her like a train, and her brown hair was perfectly placed like a crown atop her head. Those sharp, cunning brown eyes—the same as mine—noted Ransom on the bed, and me, sitting as far away from him as possible.

Panic burst in my chest, and in a blink, I’d spanned the distance to Ransom, who had stood at her entrance. I yanked him against me, the motion so fast and jarring he stumbled a bit into my side. He recovered quickly, sliding a strong arm over my shoulders.

“You can’t hide behind him,” my mother teased, arching a brow at me as she surveyed us. “You’ve been gone for too many decades to count—”

“Working!” I cut her off, exasperated. “Serving in the royal court is not a dishonorable choice!”

“I said nothing of the sort,” she chided, waving me off. “You could have at least brought this one home when you discovered he was your mate, though, honestly, Olivia. It’s like you’re ashamed of us.”

“That is so not true, and you know it.”

My mother shrugged, then reached for me. I released Ransom and fell into her embrace, falling into the hug like I was a youngling again. Despite our differences in beliefs, I loved her. I’d lied to her because of that love, lied to them all to spare them the hurt and disappointment at knowing their youngest had gone against tradition and crafted herself into a warrior instead of a lady-in-waiting.

Mother gripped my right wrist, drawing it up to her nose.

“Mom!” I gaped at her as she inhaled deeply near the mark. I jerked my hand back. “What are you doing?”

She glanced at Ransom, smiling. “You’re of the Order?”

He extended his hand, dipping his head as she took it. “Ransom,” he introduced himself. “It’s an honor to be a part of your esteemed family. Thank you for hosting us. We will like to wake the ancients as soon as possible—”

“Of course,” she cut him off as he dropped her hand. “As long as you stay the entirety of Kranitel Days.” Ransom’s eyes widened, and I parted my lips to protest, but she hurried on. “Waking the ancients isn’t like flipping on a light switch,” she said, rolling her eyes. “It takes time. At least a week to regenerate, possibly more.” Her eyes locked with mine. “You’ve been gone for longer than I’d like to remember, Olivia,” she said, and the sadness in her words cut into my soul. “You and your mate will stay and partake in the festivities as well as complete your royal mission.” She said the last two words as if they were secondary to Kranitel Days.